Sunshine-taxed to the max!

Buy? Rent? Both unaffordable in SD

Should you buy or rent a home in San Diego? Neither, if you look at such a decision from an economic perspective.

According to Zillow.com, the share of median income needed to buy a home in San Diego County, is now 35.6 percent. Only three of the nation's 35 largest metro areas have a higher unaffordability ratio: Los Angeles (42.6 percent), San Francisco (42.6 percent), and San Jose (39.5 percent). Nationwide, the ratio is 15.3 percent. You really are paying for sunshine.

But renting is worse. San Diegans pay 42.6 percent of their income to rent a median-priced unit. Only three cities have worse affordability: Los Angeles (47.9 percent), Miami (44.4 percent), and San Francisco (44.3 percent). Nationally, the rate is 29.5 percent.